CIVIC PROJECTS

San Diego 
A key backer of building San Diego a new $432 million City Hall argued against a public vote on the project yesterday, saying the general public won't be able to understand it.

“There's less than 1 percent of the citizens in the United States of America that understand the complexity in how to put these kinds of projects together, so why would we want to ask the other 99 percent?” said real estate mogul Malin Burnham.

Burnham, one of several civic and business leaders whose input is sought by Mayor Jerry Sanders, spoke during a forum on three proposed civic projects: a new City Hall, a San Diego Convention Center expansion and a new downtown library.

Much of the discussion, hosted by the Downtown San Diego Partnership at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, focused on whether now is the right time to be talking about such grand visions when the city faces a $179 million budget deficit next year.

The mayor has promised a public vote on the proposed City Hall, but the City Council refused to commit to one last week when the panel voted to enter negotiations with a developer.

Burnham echoed that reluctance, saying the decision should be left up to elected officials.

Taxpayer advocate Richard Rider, participating in the forum as an opponent of the project, criticized Burnham for giving the “elitist viewpoint” that only 1 percent of citizens should have a say over the use of public dollars.

“Let me suggest to you that, although I'm viewed as an outsider and a naysayer, if you put this thing to a vote,” it's going to lose, Rider said. “It's just that simple.”

The City Hall project calls for a private developer to construct a 34-story building with an underground garage at C Street and First Avenue, just west of the current building. It would consolidate city offices now spread throughout downtown and eliminate several city leases.

Supporters say it would save money over time as opposed to staying put in the outdated building. Opponents, such as Rider, contend the city should aggressively renegotiate its leases to get better deals rather than build a new structure.

Mel Katz, vice chair of the San Diego Public Library Foundation, which is raising money for a $185 million downtown library, said his project wouldn't hurt city finances and has widespread support.

“This is all going to be done without going into the general fund, without new bonding and without any new tax dollars,” he said.

Lani Lutar, president of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, questioned the wisdom of approving a project when fundraisers acknowledge they remain $36 million short of their goal. She said the city could easily end up paying the operating costs of a huge library it can't afford.

“We can either be realistic and really be honest about the trade-offs, or we can push through a project that is going to repeat the mistakes of the past,” Lutar said, referring to the 2002 decision to significantly increase city employee pension benefits without identifying a way to pay for them.

The proposed $753 million expansion of the Convention Center garnered less discussion, as funding for the project has yet to be identified. Of the three projects, Rider said the expansion made the most sense because it would generate revenue for the city while the other two would not.